German extremist leader Michael Ballweg has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering for alleged appropriation of donations intended for his movement Lateral thinker 711created to combat the restrictions against the pandemic of the COVID-19.
This was reported by the police Stuttgart (southwest of Germany) who explained that the detention was necessary because there was a danger that Michael Ballweg would flee abroad.
The former businessman is under suspicion of having publicly asked for donations in 2020 and having diverted hundreds of thousands of euros to his own pocket.
Michael Ballweg founded the Querdenker movement (cross-cutting thinkers) to organize protests in Stuttgart against the first restrictions to combat the coronavirus. Subsequently Querdenker groups were formed throughout Germany.
in surveillance
Since the end of 2020 the original movement is monitored by the Regional Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Baden Württenberg (southwest of Germany).
The movement is suspected of being linked to racist and extremist groups such as the so-called Reichbürger (Citizens of the Empire) who deny the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Lawyer Ralf Ludwig, who belongs to the movement, confirmed that the house of Michael Ballweg had been seized by the police and said that the accusations against him are “constructed”.
According to a study by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, there is a mixture of conspiracy theories and esotericism in the movement. (EFE)
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